for women, but it doesn't necessarily mean special environment. >> reporter: yahoo! hired mayer as a its ceo in july knowing she was pregnant. mayer plans to be back in the office within one or two weeks. that, too, is generating flap. >> we should be sending the message that women need more maternity leave and better benefits and need more time. they need a workplace that understands that this is a period of time that women need to be with a baby. >> reporter: all this criticism could make the corner office look real good to mayer. >> mommies are hard on each other. mommies are very tough. a lot of criticism probably for everything she does, while being a mommy. >> yahoo! did not respond to a request for comment from nbc news. >> all right, so, you ready for the big chill coming our way? >> no, i'm not. not yet, but i'm going to go find the coat tonight. >> i think most people would say, richard and pat, that they're not ready. i'm not ready either. i think maybe the trees may be ready because look at that, great fall color out there right now. this is new river gor